London murder trial: accused told judge 'I'm guilty' but denies charges at Old Bailey

Peter Augustine, 59, told a judge in May he did not want bail because he was "guilty", a London court heard. He denies murdering Irish pensioner John Mackey, 87, from Co Kilkenny.

Murder accused told judge 'I know what I did' weeks after Irish pensioner's death

Peter Augustine, 59, told a judge last May that he did not want bail because he was "guilty" — a statement now placed before jurors at the Old Bailey, rte.ie reports.

Augustine is on trial for the murder and robbery of John Mackey, an 87-year-old Irish pensioner originally from Callan, Co Kilkenny, who died in a London hospital on 8 May following a street attack two days earlier.

The exchange, read to the court as agreed facts on the fifth day of proceedings, took place on 13 May when Augustine appeared before a judge in connection with the charges.

"Your honour, I don't want bail," Augustine said, according to the transcript.

"I don't sir, because I know what I did."

"I don't want bail, I'm guilty."

Despite those words, Augustine formally denies both the murder and robbery charges.

Mackey was attacked on 6 May as he walked home from his local supermarket and takeaway in north London. He suffered blunt force impacts to his head and chest.

Witness statements from first responders described Mackey as "dazed" but "conscious" when they arrived at the scene. A police officer who accompanied him by ambulance to Whittington Hospital said his "ability to converse deteriorated" during the journey. Mackey died two days later from severe head injuries.

Before the attack, the pensioner had purchased groceries — a cottage pie, cornflakes and a copy of the Daily Mirror — along with a takeaway.

Augustine had been staying at the nearby Beaconsfield Hotel, where the bill was covered by his sister. When he was arrested there on 8 May, officers found an empty cottage pie container, a packet of cornflakes and a Daily Mirror dated 6 May in his hotel room. An empty takeaway container was also recovered.

On the opening day of his trial, Augustine shouted from the dock: "I never hit him," before adding, "I took the bag and I ran."

A psychiatric defence is not due to be raised in the case.

Augustine was not present in court on the fifth day of the trial. The case continues at the Old Bailey next week.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)